1. Craft a Detailed Contract
The most crucial way to set your basement remodel in the Chicago North shore area up for success is to work with your contractor to create a detailed contract. Among other things, your contract should specify the scope of the work, material selections, and an estimated timeline for completion.
2. Know Your Contractor’s Daily Work Schedule
3. Establish Modes of Communication and Contact with your Contractor
4. Work with Your Contractor to Pull Permits and Set Inspections
To further plan for your building schedule, ask your contractor what to expect concerning city timelines. Understand that your contractor is not solely responsible for your building timeline. You’ll also need to take into account the time it will take to obtain city permits and schedule building inspections.
5. Ensure a Waterproof Foundation
The number one most important construction-related concern when building a basement is water. Recognize that your contractor may need to deconstruct all the way to your home’s foundation in order to prevent damage in the future.
6. Inspect for Radon
7. Know Your Flooring Options
8. Introduce Ample Lighting
Basements have a bad reputation for being dimly lit. But this doesn’t have to be the case in your own home. With careful planning, you can make your basement just as cheery and inviting as the rest of your home. Install a mixture of lighting sources, including runway ceiling lights, ambient sconce lights, floor and table lamps, and, most importantly, the natural light provided by egress windows.
9. Add a Second HVAC System
Not all HVAC systems can span multiple floors, but in the case of a basement, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Adding a second HVAC system designed specifically to service your basement will allow you to control for natural temperature differentials to make every area of your home comfortable.
10. Plan Adequate Storage
Finally, be sure to create a basement floor plan that includes closets and built-in storage areas. Basements tend to become a catch-all storage area since they’re out of the way of your main traffic areas. Planning ahead for this purpose will enable you to store your possessions in an organized and functional manner. Design your space based on your current and anticipated future needs.
Following these steps will help safeguard the overall success of your basement remodel in Chicago, IL.